Bend trip..top 3 breweries to visit?

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by bosco123, Jan 11, 2013.

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  1. bosco123

    bosco123 Initiate (0) May 26, 2008 Oregon

    Hitting Bend next weekend and will research who's pouring what before I make my decision on which breweries to visit. Boneyard will happen but am undecided on the other few. Not really interested in Deschutes unless something spectacular is on tap. Any suggestions that the websites can't offer?
     
  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Boneyard is my #1, but since you've already mentioned it, here are three others.

    1. Crux
    2. 10 Barrel
    3. Bend Brewing
     
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  3. exitmusic00

    exitmusic00 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Oregon

    My wife and I went a couple weeks ago, and here are some thoughts from the breweries we made it to...

    Boneyard offers flight and growlers to-go only.

    10 Barrel was great all-around - we already want to go back sometime to try their pizza, which looked amazing.

    Deschutes was decent overall, but the Super Jubel was one of my favorite beers from the weekend. Good food.

    Crux was OK...they are definitely the dope spot in town right now, so the vibe was pure yuppie. The beers were hit & miss. We didn't eat there.

    Bend Brewing...the few beers I tried were solid, albeit nothing game-changing. Didn't try the food.

    Hope you have a great trip!
     
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  4. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If Bend has Ching Ching on tap, drink drink drink.
     
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  5. flexabull

    flexabull Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2006 California

    Boneyard - Might have the best beer in town.
    Bend - I love HopHead, other beers I've found to be hit and miss.
    GoodLife - Good beer, place is nothing special
    10 Barrel - Cool place, but I've always thought their beers were just average, good food though.

    Haven't been to Crux, but I believe it's very close to Boneyard. Have fun, I'm envious.
     
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  6. guajolote

    guajolote Maven (1,325) Sep 12, 2008 Oregon

    Crux
    10 Barrel (for lunch/dinner)
    Ale Apothecary (make an appointment)

    And MAKE SURE to get some Boneyard beers (especially RPM & Hop Venom) at any number of pubs around Bend.
     
  7. MattyPrize

    MattyPrize Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Oregon

    Crux
    Ale Apothecary (if you can get an appointment)
    Deschutes
    Boneyard

    don't bother with 10 Barrel. The pizza is great while the beer, if they have any, isn't anything amazing. I expect more in Bend. The 2 bottle shops (Brew Shop/Platypus, and Broken Top Bottle Shop) are great places to pick up rare bottles as well. Both bottle shops have Ching Ching for purchase.
     
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  8. bosco123

    bosco123 Initiate (0) May 26, 2008 Oregon

    Super Jubel would definitely be the draw to get me to Deschutes. Crux sounds interesting and 10 Barrel will be a dinning destination. Silver moon? And the Ale Apocathery might be my one frivilous venture. (how does one make reservations?)Staying at the St. Francis. I really have no agenda but beer so...I can't wait to experience Bend and your recomendations. Any more thoughts would be welcome as I still have loads of time to make up my mind.
     
  9. bosco123

    bosco123 Initiate (0) May 26, 2008 Oregon

    Guess I need to try Ching Ching..eh?
     
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  10. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't do dinner at 10 Barrel. The Blacksmith is a nice higher end sit-down place, and Jackson's Corner is a great neighborhood sandwich/pizza spot. Both have fantastic taplists (Boneyard, Russian River, other OR locals, etc.).
     
  11. sharpski

    sharpski Pooh-Bah (2,806) Oct 11, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Not sure why distantmantra says no dinner at 10 Barrel (except maybe due to a long wait for a table), but their brewpub is standard-setting in my book. Good beer, good food, and great atmosphere, especially in nice weather.

    Brother Jon's has a good taplist, I like the Deschutes brewpub for solid if not mind-blowing food and drink options, and I'm still partial to another BA's (can't remember who) suggestion to have a drink at Bend Brewing overlooking the Mirror Pond. Make it Ching Ching.
     
  12. exitmusic00

    exitmusic00 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Oregon

    Replying to my own comment right quick to make sure it wasn't misconstrued...I fucking LOVE Boneyard!!! Just wanted to make sure OP knows they don't yet have a space where you can drink their luscious beers all night long until you're stuck on stoopid. Fucking love those guys though. :slight_smile:
     
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  13. exitmusic00

    exitmusic00 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Oregon

    Kinda surprised to see all the love for Crux, but that's just one drunk man's opinion. :wink:
     
  14. MattyPrize

    MattyPrize Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2011 Oregon

    For a relatively new brewery (opened in 2012), Crux makes some pretty damn good beer. I definitely like them over 10 Barrel, Good Life, or BBC. Plus, their food rocks IMO
     
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  15. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,282) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I've not been to Bend in a couple years, so I won't include breweries that have opened since I last visited. Boneyard, Bend Brewing (sitting on their deck and having a beer, while overlooking the Mirror Pond that Deschutes named my favorite Pale Ale after, is always one of my favorite beer moments) and Deschutes Bond Street Pub are my choices.
     
  16. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,197) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    I think 10 Barrel is solid. Bend Brewing is way more hit or miss, for me. Deschutes is worth the trip. I've not been to Goodlife or Boneyard since they opened after my last trip there, but have had beers by both and am VERY impressed. Not impressed with Silver Moon at all.
     
  17. maltmaster420

    maltmaster420 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2005 Oregon

    If it's possible to delay your trip for a couple of weeks, Worthy Brewing is opening on February 4th. Other than that, you've already got a great thread full of suggestions, and the toughest part will be narrowing it down to 3 spots.
     
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  18. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm clearly biased due to knowing the Sidors, but I still like their beers aside from a couple that need work.
     
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  19. guajolote

    guajolote Maven (1,325) Sep 12, 2008 Oregon

    Yeah, the Boneyard taproom is worth stopping at if you have time, but you can get their beers at so many other places around town, it's not necessary if you're strapped for time.

    As for 10 Barrel, I thought the food was pretty good. I mean, it's not going to get a Michelin star or anything, but it's good pizza & comfort food. Plus, even though I've never been blown away by Apocalypse, I thought it was pretty great on tap at the source. They also had a coffee stout on when I was there and I enjoyed it a lot. And I agree about the atmosphere. Definitely one of the better brewpub spaces in Bend, IMO.
     
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  20. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    10 Barrel's food is good and I love their space, but you could also go to a really nice place and have better food and top-notch beer as well. Just sayin'.
     
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